THE Wellingtion Independent. "Nothing extenuate: Nor set down aught in malice." THURSDAY MORNING, 9th JULY. THE RECENT MILITARY OUTRAGE.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1892, 9 July 1863, Page 2

THE Wellingtion Independent. "Nothing extenuate: Nor set down aught in malice." THURSDAY MORNING, 9th JULY. THE RECENT MILITARY OUTRAGE.

The late military outrage on closer investigation assumes a very grave complexion. Already we have adverted to the circumstances of the disgraceful occurence itself, and beyond a single trifling matter of detail, our account was a perfectly correct one. On that occasion, we carefully refrained from passing any censure on the military authorities, because we wrote in baste, with crude information, and a host of extraordinary rumours continually pouring in, none of which there was time to sift or trace to their sources. Now, however, the case is different. With infinite pains we have traced out the whole circumstances, and if we thus jprrive at the conclusion that timely precautions were not taken, it is only because the facts admit of no other construction.

Major Dwyer has addressed a letter to this ] journal in which he contradicts our assertion, i tb at Inspector Atcheson informed him of the threatened riot, and goes on to say, " that on the first intimation of- danger, he ordered the regimental picquet and police to patrol the town, which was done without loas of time." It is perfectly true that Inspector Atcheson did not wait on Major Dwyer ■personally. That statement was made inadvertently, on the authority of what Inspector Atchison told us. Bui what are the real facts ? Police constable Harris received a communication from a soldier named Ward, that the men of the 14th had resolved to break out on Monday, and pull down the " Coach and Horses," and •• Ship " Hotels. He informer) Inspector Atcheson of this, who directed him at once to put Major Dwyer in possession of the information officially. On his way to the Major's house, Harris met Adjutant Willis, and informed him. The time was tbiee o'clock, and the place near the Union Bank. Adjutant Willis replied, " That he would communicate with Major Dwyer." We do not know when he saw Major Dwyer, and apprised him of the circumstances ; this may, or may not have been done in suffi. cient time to bare taken preventive measures, ftt all events, no immediate action followed.

But there was more than sufficient warning from other sources, of au impending danger. A man called Poad, the barman at the " Coach and Horses," waited on Major Dwyer at bis own residence, at half-past four on Monday afternoon, and informed him (we quote the irau's statement made yesterday in presence of Inspector Atcheson) " that there were three soldiers in the house, who had threatened that the men of the 14ih would pull it down that night, and that if they were not allowed to get out of barracks they would break out." The Major, it is alleged, replied that he (our informant) need not be alarmed as he (the Major) would send up to the barracks immediately. Further still, at a quarter past fire, three-quarters of an hour later, Mr Edwards called on the Major and warned him of the serious impending danger, This time the Major replied " that he had already taken means to preserve the peace of the town." It must be borne in mind that Major Dwyer was confined to his room seriously ill, in fact almost bent double with pain, and that he could not possibly stir out, to see his orders put into execution. That he did give the orders to take precautions is undoubted, but whether Adjutant Willis acquainted him officially as to the 3tate of affairs, with sufficient prompitude, and whether his orders having been issued were carried out without delay by the subordinate officers, are questions which we cannot solve. We do know this, that at 6 o'clock the wanton outrage commenced, and that for upwards of half-an-hour the mob of rioters were allowed to pursue their course unchecked. We know also, that it was only when the riot was over, and the damage done, that the picquet was formed in Manners street. Surely, therefore, in the public interest we may require an explanation why, when repeated timely warnings had been given, timely measures to avert the danger were not taken. Major Dwyer is a gallant soldier, and a true gentlemen; he has grown grey in his country's service, and he bears a reputation as high as it is well earned. We would not willingly cast a slur on one of the oldest officers in the British army, we would not willingly increase the pain which this unfortunate affair must already have caused him ; but the community do require an explanation why under the circumstances, its occurrence was not prevented.

Major Dwyer tells us " that on the first inti. mation that there was to be a riot, be ordered the regimental picquet and police to patrol the town" and we feel bound to accept his statement with implicit credence, but the question a^ges, when did Adjutant Willis, who received the information at 3 o'clock, cammunieate it to his commanding officer ? If that intimation were given sufficiently early, how comes it that the picquet patrolled the town too late to prevent the outrage at 0 o'clock ?

We have few remarks to make on the affair itself. The soldiers allege that they were driven to do the deed, by the savage assault made on Corporal Wilson on Saturday night. They say that they are the subjects, of repeated insalts from civilians, and they instance sailors, public-house loafers, and butcher boys as their chief aggressors. We believe there is some truth in this ; a low, and happily, very small section of the community have what is col* loquiaily termed " a dowu " on the military ; but have not the excesses and outrages of some of their number, tended to produce this? We are not acquainted with the circumstances of the assault on Corporal Wilson, who is one of the most inoffensive of men, but the police have at length some traces of the perpetrators, and no means will be left untried to bring them to justice. By what species of logic did these fifty mcii of the gallant 14th, arrive at the con-

clusion that they would fittingly avenge the injury of their comrade by breaking the windaws and destroying the property of a number of quiet'people, who never even heard of the assault ? We tell these men that the civilians will not brook such outrageous conduct. If they have been wronged, there is the law and the magistrate to appeal to — not the bludgeon and the brickbat*

We are glad to observe that Major Dwyer has taken measures to preserve the peace of the City. A strong military picquet, under the command of an officer, patrols the streets during the night, and we uuderstand that no soldiers are allowed to be out of barracks after 5 p.m. It is to be hoped that tbe^raeaug adopted may have the desired effect.